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Why can't format SD card on Mac and see the Couldn't modify partition map error?

Trouble formatting a small 128MB SD card in macOS Big Sur. The card's lock switch is not engaged, and yet I can't format it. I also can't delete the single file that is on this card. When I right click, there is no option to send to trash or delete. When I try to format it with the MS-DOS (FAT) option, I get the following error: Couldn't modify partition map. (~69874) I have tried this same process on two other small SD cards (all under 1GB in size), with no success.

Best Answered by

Amanda Wong

Answered on Tuesday, August 27, 2024

The reasons behind the Could't modify partition map error could be corrupted, unknown, or missing partition map of the disk, write protection on the SD card, corrupted files or disk errors on the drive, etc. Possible solutions include unlocking the SD card, repairing the disk, and erasing the SD card again.

Even if the card's lock switch is not engaged as you said, the SD card could be also write-protected, you can remove write protection from the SD card by cleaning the SD card's metal connectors, clearing read-only attributes on the SD card, and editing Windows Registry.

Besides, the couldn't modify partition map error may also relate to SD card corruption, therefore you can't format the SD card and see the error message. You should repair the SD card with Disk Utility and then try to reformat it again.

  1. Open Disk Utility from Finder > Applications > Utilities.
  2. Connect the SD card to your Mac.
  3. Click View > Show All Devices in Disk Utility.
  4. Select the SD card from the left device list and click First Aid.
  5. Choose Run to start checking and repairing the SD card.
  6. When the process completes, click Format again.

If you fail to format the SD card in Disk Utility again, try formatting it with Terminal using the command diskutil eraseDisk File_System Disk_Name /dev/diskN.